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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47

Department of the Interior

Department of the Interior.

North-West Territories.

In October, 1876, these territories were erected into a separate Government, and a Council appointed In March 1877, a Legislative session of the Council was held, and several Ordinances passed and distributed through the Territories. These were

"To provide for the protection of the Buffalo,

"To prevent prairie and forest fires,

"To prevent gambling, respecting infectious diseases, and respecting masters and servants.

Keewatin.

395,000 square miles of the N. W. Territories, were, by the Act of 7th Oct, 1876. detached from these territories, and erected into the "D strict of Keewatin." This District extends between 910 8′ and 1000 8′ west, and from Manitoba and the International boundary to the northern boundary of Canada. A Council of six gentlemen were appointed, and they were organized into a Board of Health, and took stringent measures to prevent the spread of small pox in the Territory, but the expense being found much greater than the Government estimated, it Intimated to the Council its desire that they should resign, and they accordingly did so on the 16th April, 1877, the emergency for which they were appointed no longer existing.

Indians of Dominion.

The Indians of Prince Edward Island (Mic Macs) show a slight increase on numbers during the year 1876-76, they numbering 296. The agent says they have suffered very much from sickness, nearly the whole of the Government grant being exhausted in providing medical attendance and supplies. They had 68 acres of land under cultivation, raising 21 bushels of wheat, 167 of oats and 1,411 of potatoes. The value of their fish catch was $710, and they manufactured many thousands of butter firkins and baskets They are represented as desirous of improvement. There was an average attendance of 14 children at the school, about one half of those on the roll. The agent is confident the settlement on Lennox Island will become highly prosperous.

The Indians of New Brunswick. (Mic-Macs and Amalecites) numbered 1,425. Those in the north-east are all Ro- page 29 man Catholics, quiet and inoffensive, very improvident and with little interest in farming. Many are employed in the lumber mills. They have no school. Those of the south-west have also no schools, and are much given to drink The Tobique Indians have applied to have schools established on their reserve. The number of acres cultivated by all the bands was 929, and they had 325 houses or huts and 80 barns, some horses (young stock), sheep and pigs. They raised 76 b. corn, 100 b. of wheat, 3,499 b. of oats, 39 b. of peas, 1,129 b. of buckwheat, and 4,966 b. of potatoes Their fish and furs were valued at $2,078. and the proceeds of other industries at $354.

The Nova Scotia Indians, all Mic-Macs, number 2,1l6. Those in District No 1 suffered, during the early part of the winter of 1886-77, a good deal of destitution. They are reported as showing gradual improvement, but taking little interest in the cultivation of the land. In District No. 2 they are reported as a law-abiding people, sober and industrious, desirous to settle on separate pieces of land, and having mostly framed houses. They are all Catholics and very regular at church, but have no schools In No 4, a very marked and gratifying improvement in industrial habits is reported, and the moral status decidedly good. In No 5, there is a growing desire for comfortable houses, and a nice little village is springing upon the reserve. In No 6, there was a total failure of the potato crop, and the hay badly injured by the wet season. In No. 8, a most commendable improvement is noticed, and a spirit of ambition to compete with the whites. The school is in a flourishing condition and the children doing well The average daily attendance at the two schools was 34 out of a total of 79 1,256 acres of land are cultivated by the Nova Scotia Indians, of which 46 was brought j into cultivation in 1877; they have 351 houses and 46 barns. 1,143 bushels of various kinds of grain were raise 18,000 bushels of potatoes, and 1,038 tons of hay cut. The value of fish and furs sold was $5,476, and of other industries $6,105, giving a total value of sales $11,581. The superintendent of Indian Affairs states that there is a very marked difference between the Indians in the eastern and western sections of Nova Scotia, though they are all of one tribe. Those at the east are more agricultural in their tastes and industrious in their habits, and those of Cape Breton especially are noted for their honesty and sobriety.

In Quebeo the Indian population numbers 0,917, but of these there are residing on reserves only 4,024. The Caughnawaga Iroquois are Catholic, in general well behaved, some of them first-class farmers, and most of them very expert in working the stone from the quarries. They are Indifferent about schools, and too much exposed to temptation from liquor selling.: The difficulties between the Seminary of St. Sulpice and the Oka Indians stand in the way of much improvement, among them. The St Regis Iroquois are still increasing, and many of them do very well at farming, but the report of their state generally is less favourable than of the Caughpawagas. Of the Abenakis of St. Francis and Becancour, the agent gives no report. The report from the Montagnais of Lake St. John and neighbourhood is favourable. They had good crops in 1877. the Chief having himself raised over 100 bushels of excellent wheat, and they were preparing new land for the coming spring. On the Quebec reserves, 6, 18 acres of land altogether were in cultivation, and the value of their sales of fish, furs, and manufactures was $28,403. 12 schools were in operation, at which the average attendance was about 240 out of a roll of 489.

The number of Indians in Ontario is 15,666, residing on reserves 14,948. 51,939 acres of land under cultivation, an increase of 3,619 in one year. Fish, furs, and other products were sold to the value of 121,014. The largest body of Indians on any one settlement in the Dominion are the Six Nations and Mississaguas, on Grand River, who number 3,340 Their progress continues to be most gratifying. Many applications for enfranchisement have come from them and other Ontario Indians. The schools are flourishing. The Chippawas, Munsees and Oneidas of the Thames, are slowly but surely advancing in civilization and comfort. Besides the Mount Elgin Institute there are six schools taught by native teachers, and flourishing temperance societies Most of them live in tolerable comfort. The Indian population of the Central Superin-tendency of Ontario continues to incense, and though but little change can be noted from year to year, their condition has morally and physically improved. Temperance societies are being established, and improved methods of farming being taken up. On Manitoulin Island the quantity of land under cultivation has been increased, and the Indians are generally orderly and well conducted. The attendance at school is irregular, but very satisfactory progress has been made. Improvements are continually being made on their houses and much attention is paid to road making. There are six bands of Indians in the Pa my Sound division, all generally employed in either hunting or fishing and the farming done is on a small scale and badly done. Schools are almost unknown, though several of the bands are desirous to have them established. In the Sault Ste. Marie division, the two bands are taking greater interest in agricultural pursuits, and a considerably larger portion of land has been enclosed. The schools have been better attended and the children make good progress. The liquor traffic is a great trouble, from the proximity to the American frontier. The number of children at school among all the Indians of Ontario was 1.985, but the average attendance was much less The accumulated capital of Indian Trust Funds on June 30th, 1877, mostly belonging to Ontario and Quebec, was $2,96s 041, and the accrued amount of interest $159,928 The quantity of land sold in Ontario for the benefit of the Indians during the year was 43,8 3 acres, at the price of $75,224. On old and new sales and leases 65,876 was collected. The area of surrendered land in Quebec and Ontario, surveyed and unsold is 55 869½ acres.

Manitoba Indians.-Several local agents were appointed for the Indians in Manitoba In 1877, much to the satisfaction of the agents, and it was hoped to be attended with very beneficial results There is a general desire manifested by page 30 the Manitoba Indians to be taught farming. Some of the bands are making very marked progress. Several additional reserves were surveyed during the year. Several new schools were established and applications for several others have been sent in. There Is a general desire among the Indians, not only that their children should be taught to read and write, but that they themselves may acquire the arts of the white man. The Indians in the Lake Manitoba agency are described by the agent as quiet and inoffensive, and very desirous of Imitating the whites, anxious for the education of their children, and have a practical farmer established on each reserve to teach them farming. Their general health was good, and they were well satisfied with their position and treatment.

In the North-West Territories, five schools have been established. In the spring of 1877, barley and seed potatoes were distributed to the tribes at Ellice, Qu' Appelle, Touchwood Hills, Pelly and Shoal River, and planted by the Indians. The crops turned out well Some of the bands near Carleton and Prince Albert were supplied with seed grain and potatoes. These were very much encouraged with the result, and have broken up more new land. One band has over 100 acres under cult vation The White-fish Lake Indians are the furthest advanced in civilization of any in the Territories. They raised, in 1877, enough grain and vegetables for their food. The total number of Treaty" Indians in the North-West Territories is about 17,000 and in Manitoba over 10,000. The Sioux who have came over from the United States have not made as satisfactory progress as was expected, though they are generally more intelligent and industrious than the other Indian bands, and their presence is a source of anxiety. The Indians in the Athabaska district are estimated to number about 2,400, and those of Rupert's Land, 4,370.

Among British Columbia Indians a much better feeling has sprung up, and peace and apparent contentment is found. There is a marked improvement in the conduct of the coast Indians, much due to the stringency of the Indian Liquor Act. In all the large British Columbia Super intendency only two murders were reported during 1877, and these were due to the influence of Indian liquor. New re serves were la d out in Lewis and Sechelt Inlets satisfactory to the Indians, and some desired plots of land added to the Conroy reserve. The Cowichan Bands number 83, are a most industrious and sturdy race, with quite a large area of land under cultivation, good fences, barns, stabres, Ac, and some 500 head of cattle. The Indians of British Columbia are generally shrewd, active and intelligent. Those of Fraser River are represented to be generally industrious and self-reliant. There is a perceptible improvement in their health and general condition. The Indians of the interior are a very active people, and great horsemen. The total number of British Columbia Indians is estimated at, in the Fraser River Super-intendency, 15,000; Vancouver and the Coast. 20,000-35,000 souls There are six schools with 402 pupils; but except at the Industrial Schools, it is very difficult to obtain the attendance of the children. The value of the furs, cranberries, and oil exported from British Columbia, in 1877 (almost entirely of Indian production), was $384 712.

The total number of Indians in the Dominion in 1877 was estimated to be

Ontario 15,666
Quebec 10,917
New Brunswick 1,425
Nova Scotia 2,116
Prince Edward Island 296
Manitoba and N.W.T 27,08
Athabaska 2,398
British Columbia 35,154
Rupert's Land 4,370
Total 99,650